Recommend your family friendly/public transit friendly neighborhood! (Seattle, Pacific: homes, neighborhoods)

[Jezamyn]

Moving to Seattle is quickly moving from a potentiality to a certainty, we booked our moving company for the beginning of the summer! That said, I'd love to get some recommendations from other parents on where to live. We have a 7 year old, a 12 year old, and one on the way though, so quite a spread of needs. We homeschool, so school district isn't an issue for us, though being within an easy commute to the Homeschool Resource Center would be nice.

What I'm looking for:
*Within approx 1/2 hour drive/25 miles of Pacific, WA, where my partner has a job lined up.
*Affordable- absolute max of $1050 for a 2 bedroom, ideally closer to $800 or $900
*Close to public transit- we only have one car.
*Safe
*City proper (not suburbs)
Close to library
Close to park, particularly one with programs for elementary/middle school
Close to museums and other educational opportunities
Access to good, inexpensive grocery store with great produce
High walk score in general
*Musthaves

Thanks so much!

[orzo]

Originally Posted by Jezamyn

Moving to Seattle is quickly moving from a potentiality to a certainty, we booked our moving company for the beginning of the summer! That said, I'd love to get some recommendations from other parents on where to live. We have a 7 year old, a 12 year old, and one on the way though, so quite a spread of needs. We homeschool, so school district isn't an issue for us, though being within an easy commute to the Homeschool Resource Center would be nice.

What I'm looking for:
*Within approx 1/2 hour drive/25 miles of Pacific, WA, where my partner has a job lined up.
*Affordable- absolute max of $1050 for a 2 bedroom, ideally closer to $800 or $900
*Close to public transit- we only have one car.
*Safe
*City proper (not suburbs)
Close to library
Close to park, particularly one with programs for elementary/middle school
Close to museums and other educational opportunities
Access to good, inexpensive grocery store with great produce
High walk score in general
*Musthaves

Thanks so much!

Given a commute to Pacific, I'd say Columbia City (a neighborhood in Seattle, not a separate city), Mt. Baker, or Seward Park. In your price range, I'd say Columbia City is the best bet. Also, Columbia City has the most walkable business district of the three. It's also close to light rail and there are several bus lines nearby.

Keep in mind, though, Columbia City is embedded in the Rainier Valley, which is considered one of the sketchier parts of the city. Don't get me wrong, Columbia City itself is safe, but some of the surrounding neighborhoods South and North along Rainier are a little sketchier (for anyone coming from a North Seattle neighborhood like Fremont, Wallingford, or Ballard, at least). There is a strong community of families there, though and a lot of great local businesses. And generally I think it's safe.

The area is known as being one of Seattle's main "gentrifying" neighborhoods, which people have mixed feelings about.

Columbia City, Seattle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[orzo]

Originally Posted by Jezamyn

Moving to Seattle is quickly moving from a potentiality to a certainty, we booked our moving company for the beginning of the summer! That said, I'd love to get some recommendations from other parents on where to live. We have a 7 year old, a 12 year old, and one on the way though, so quite a spread of needs. We homeschool, so school district isn't an issue for us, though being within an easy commute to the Homeschool Resource Center would be nice.

What I'm looking for:
*Within approx 1/2 hour drive/25 miles of Pacific, WA, where my partner has a job lined up.
*Affordable- absolute max of $1050 for a 2 bedroom, ideally closer to $800 or $900
*Close to public transit- we only have one car.
*Safe
*City proper (not suburbs)
Close to library
Close to park, particularly one with programs for elementary/middle school
Close to museums and other educational opportunities
Access to good, inexpensive grocery store with great produce
High walk score in general
*Musthaves

Thanks so much!

I also just caught your criteria of $1050 max for a two bedroom. It's doable in Columbia City proper, but could be a challenge.

[tobester]

I agree with Orzo's recommendation of Columbia City - it has a library, a great farmer's market (warmer months), close to McPherson's Produce (great year-round choices/prices), right on bus line, walk to light rail, direct commute down Rainier Avenue to Pacific, nice parks, close to lake. The one thing you will probably have to change is your housing budget - others may know more, but guessing a 2BR for 800-1050 is difficult anywhere. I assume your partner is driving the car to work - public transit to Pacific would be painful.